Grym stared up at the ceiling, knowing that he would have to get up and start another day of horror in just a few moments. He looked down at his mate curled against his body. Once again, he would leave his mate behind while doing whatever Ryfon ordered. He took a deep breath before gently removing Melione from his side, replacing his body with a bundled-up blanket. He pulled on a pair of black pants before moving to the door.

"Grym?" Melione's sleepy voice called out to him as he reached the door.

Grym sighed as he looked back at her. "Go back to sleep, Melione." It was the same routine every morning. He hated waking her up, but she would call out for him every time she would wake up.

Melione stepped out of bed and pulled on a loose-fitting dress over her head. She wrapped her arms around herself as she stepped up to him. "I can't if you're not here."

Grym took a deep breath, slowly letting it out as he let her lead him to the front door. He allowed her to wrap the dark cloak around his body, tightening the straps across his chest. He watched as Melione reached for the mask on the table. She held it in her hands as she stared at it.

Grym hated that mask. The mask was silver with a distorted evil face. The mouthpiece was curled in a wicked smirk. Two sharp horns jutted out of the forehead. Each Devil's Footprint member had different masks depending on rank and responsibilities. Because of Grym's position as Ryfon's lap dog, doing whatever he ordered, Grym was high in the cult.

Melione finally looked up at him, her eyes observing him. Grym couldn't handle it anymore. He reached out to her and wrapped an arm around her waist, bringing her closer. His lips pressed hard against hers in a bruising kiss. He pulled away after a couple of moments. "I'm so-"

Melione covered his mouth with her hand as she shook her head. "Don't, Grym." She pressed a soft kiss on his cheek before raising the mask. "Just come back to me."

Grym nodded as he allowed her to place the mask on his face, clipping it around the back of his head into place. "I promise, Melione."

Melione pressed a kiss against two of her fingers and brought them up to the lips of his mask, pressing against it. "I love you."

"I love you." He squeezed her hand before walking out of the door. "Lock the door, Melione."

"I will."

Grym gave a sharp nod before pulling the door close behind him. He waited until he heard the lock sound on the other side of the door before moving to where three other cult members were standing. His eyes narrowed into slits as he moved closer to them. His father thought that Grym would be a flight risk and ordered some of his men to watch over him. The men that Grym would meet would follow him everywhere, leaving him alone when he would walk into his house.

The Burning Providence wasn't at all what he was expecting. The rumors had told that the Burning Providence was scorching and unbearable to live in, but they were wrong. The temperature was comfortable, never more, never less. The scenery around him was black and red, showing a significant fire at one point. No kinds of trees or plants grew in the environment; the only animals he had seen were the creatures the cult members owned.

Grym climbed onto his horse and followed the three cult members toward the house where Ryfon resided. Grym missed the lush scenery of the Emerald Realm. He missed the bright colors. Grym often wondered if his Priestess had been looking for him or if anyone in his realm was looking for him and knew he was missing. There wasn't any news from the Emerald Realm, but he didn't think his father would tell him if they were.

The four men slowed their horses as they came to the front of Ryfon's house. Grym's heart squeezed every time that he stopped at the front steps. The house that Ryfon had built was the same one as his back home. There were two statues on either side of the stairs of his mother smiling up at the sky. Grym understood what his father was talking about regarding how he felt about Melione. He would do anything to ensure her protection. However, he didn't think he would go so far as to create a cult to destroy the gods.

Grym dismounted off his horse and ascended the stairs. Ryfon was waiting for him at the door, maskless. "I'm delighted you decided to join me for this, son." A mocking smirk danced across his face.

Grym shrugged as his fists clenched at his sides. "You give me no choice, father."

Ryfon chuckled darkly as he turned and walked through the open door. "I'd watch how you'd speak to me, son. I can control that collar around your pretty little mate's neck."

Grym growled dangerously low as he reluctantly followed Ryfon into his house. "What are your orders today?" Grym wanted to get this day over with and return home to Melione.

"I have someone you need to get information from," Ryfon explained. He led him to the door that led to the basement. "There's a man here who has information on how to find the god that killed your mother."

Grym took a deep breath. "Father," he started slowly. "Do you think it would help you by killing this god? It won't bring her back."

Ryfon stopped in front of the door and turned to him. "I know you want to kill me, son. Would it make you feel like a successful mate if you destroyed the thing threatening your woman?" Grym didn't respond. "That's what I thought. I know she won't come back, Grym. I've made my peace with that. But I need to do this. I need the revenge." Ryfon took a calming breath before putting his mask on his face and walking down the stairs to the basement.